Validation of Probability-Based Chloride-Induced Corrosion Service-Life Model

Abstract

The deterioration of bridge decks due to chloride-induced corrosion is a major problem in North America. Chlorides are primarily the result of deicing salt applications on the bridge deck surface. The ingress of chlorides into concrete is typically modeled using Fick's second law of diffusion. Previous service-life models have taken a deterministic approach to estimating chloride diffusion. A recent project, however, developed a service-life model that incorporates the probabilistic nature of the diffusion parameters by using Monte Carlo statistical resampling techniques. This paper validates the probabilistic service-life model using data gathered from 10 bare steel bridge decks constructed in Virginia between 1965 and 1968.